Fluid heating device



Feb. 6, 1940. H. E. BRANNON FLUID HEATING DEVICE Filed March 25, 1938 INVENTOR. HERBEPT E BPANNON ATTORNEY.

Patented Feb. 6, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLUID HEATDIG DEVICE Herbert E. Brannon, Detroit, Mich. Application March 23, 1938, Serial No. 197,556 5 Claims. (Cl. 219-44) This invention relates to devices of a character suitable for heating fluids such as water or the like. The invention as herein shown is embodied in a novel form of tea kettle, although obviously 5 it may be embodied in other forms of heating devices.

The principal object of this invention is the provision of a device of the character described including a container for the fluid to be heated,

l and an electrical unit including heating element, switch and contacts, all located exteriorly of the container. A further object of the invention is the provision in a device of the character described of a one-piece container for the fluid to be heated 15 having no openings in'the walls thereof except the conventional inlet and outlet openings. Other objects include the provision of novel means for fastening a cover in position over the inlet opening, a novel arrangement of handle and closure 20 for the outlet opening whereby the closure is opened when the device is lifted by means of the handle; and a novel handle construction arranged with a reduced section to provide for a spring action in the handle, the reduced section being 3 covered with a molded grip formed of insulating material.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a sectional view through a tea 3 kettle;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the tea kettle shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on substantially the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional-view of the handle shown in Figure l; and

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on substantially the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

The kettle illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 includes a one-piece container I ll preferably formed of cast aluminum and provided with an inlet opening I in the top of the central portion thereof, and an outlet opening l2 in the spout portion l3. A removable cover I! is provided for the 45 opening II. A closure member I5 is provided for the opening l2. Closure l5, as will be described more in detail presently, is pivotally attached to the container In at I6. A handle H of curved formation, the details of which will be referred to hereinafter, has one end pivotally connected to the container III at l8 and the other end connected to the closure member l5 at Is.

As clearly shown in Figure 1 the bottom wall 20 of container It] is preferably countersunk u sli htly with respect to the side wall thereof. It

is provided centrally with a recess 2| extending into the interior of the container, and with a second recess 22 adjacent the side wall also extending into the interior of the container. An electrical heating element 23 in the form of a ring is secured in heat exchanging relation to the bottom wall 20 by means of straps 24. The bottom wall 20 is provided with a plurality of interiorly threaded bosses 25 which receive screws 26 for holding the straps against the element 23 and the latter against the bottom wall 20.

The heating element 23 is of conventional constructicn, the details of which form no part of the present invention. It is preferably arranged to encircle the central recess 2| in the bottom wall 20.

Within the recess 2| there is positioned a thermostat or temperature responsive switch 21 for controlling the heating element 23. The details of construction of switch 21 form no part of the present invention. The switch preferably includes any form of temperature responsive element, such as a bimetallic bar for example, which will be actuated to open the electrical circuit to heating element 23 at a predetermined temperaure.

The switch 21 is preferably enclosed within an annular wall 28 formed integrally with the bottom wall 20 whereby to separate the same from the heating element 23. The switch 21 is arranged 30 to be responsive to temperature changes of the bottom wall 20 rather than directly responsive to temperature changes of the heating element 23. To that end, the switch is located as far away from the heating element as possible and insu- 33 lated from any transfer of heat by convection through the means of the wall 28.

While switch 21 may be adjusted to open the circuit at any desired temperature, it is preferred that the switch be adjusted to open the circuit only at a temperature below that which would be destructive to the bottom wall 20, without regard to the temperature within the container in. In other words, the switch 21 serves merely as a safety factor to prevent the destruction of the 4., container by an excess of heat.

Adjacent the recess 22 in the bottom wall 20 there is formed in the side wall of container |ll a recess 29 separated from recess 22 by a partition 3|] formed integral with container l0. A pair 5,4) of contact elements 3| are mounted through partition 30 with their inner extremities located within recess 22 and their outer extremities located within recess 29. The contacts 3| are suitably insulated from partition 30 and are pro- 5 size to flt within the opening II.

located between the other terminal 38a of heating element 23 and the other terminal, not shown, of switch 21. Contact elements 3| are of suitable construction to form an operative connection with one end of a'conventional form of extension cord, the other end of which isadapted to be plugged into a wall socket to supply electrical current.

It should be here noted that the arrangement of the heating element 23, the switch 21, and the connection between them exteriorly of the container I is a novel feature of the present invention which is very advantageous in that it eliminates the possibility of these parts becoming corroded by reason of contact with the fluid contained within the container, as has been the case in similar devices in the prior art. I This ad-- vantage, namely, the location ofthe entire heating unit exteriorly of the container, is attained without any sacriflc in appearance inasmuch as it is enclosed by a removable housing 39 which is secured to the bottom 20 by means of screws 40, the bottom wall being provided with interiorly threaded bosses 4| to receive the screws. The housing 39 is designed to form a smooth joint with the outer side wall of container I0 when securedin position, thereby enhancing the appearance of the kettle as a whole.

In order to apprise the user thereof that the fluid within the container has been brought to the boiling point, the closure I is provided with an opening 42of a form to permit the escape of steam with a whistling sound. In order that the opening 42 may be effective for this purpose, it is of course necessary that the closure I5 for spout opening I2 and the lid I4 for the inlet opening II be held securely in position to close these respective openingsQ To that'end the wall of container I0 about opening II is formed with a shoulder portion 43 and the lid I4 is formed with a flange 44' spaced inwardly from its edge of a The'lid I4 is provided with'ahandle 45' which 'is secured to the lid bymeans of an elongated screw 46. This screw flts loosely'enough in the lid to allow it to slide relative thereto when handle 45 is pulled away from the lid. Secured to the under side of lid I4 by means of the screw 46 is an elongated resilient clip or spring device 41.

As clearly shown in Figure 1 the spring 41 is of a length greater than the diameter of the opening II whereby the lid I4 is flrmly held in position when installed as shown in Figure 1. One end 41b of the'spring 41 projects a.substantial amount beyond the shoulder 43, while the other end 41a projects but slightly over the shoulder 43. The end 410. may be retracted from its position over the shoulder 43 by merelypulling handle 45 away from the 11d. This movement of the handle 45 bows the spring 41 upwardly; as shown in Figure 5, and thereby reduces its effective length. To installthe lid'the spring 41 is flexed byvpulli-ng the handle 45 away from the lid, at the same time pushing downwardly on the lid. In this manner the effective length of the spring 41 is reduced sufficiently to permit the insertion of the lid I4 in the opening II. Upon releasing the handle 45 the spring 41 assumes the position shownl'in. E Zl 'e eflec holds the lid in q'smoennuitiicstring sea s" by pulling the handle as nwaynomitne 1m.- 'The lid may be removed by merely'pulling up on the handle 45.,

The closure I5 is firmly held in position in the opening I2 by means of the handle I1. As previously described, the handlehas one end pivotally connected to the closure I5 at I3 and one end pivotally connected to the container at I3. The closure itself is 'pivotally connected to the container at I5. 'I'lns latter connection, I5, is located intermediate the opposite ends of handle I1. Thus, the handle I1, the closure I5, and the pivotal connections I8, I9 and I5, constitute a toggle construction. When the closure I5 is in its closed position, as shown in full lines in Figure 1, the connection I9 is located at one side of a straight line through the connections I5 and I8, and whenthe closure is in its opened position, as shown in dotted lines, the pivotal connection I9 is located at the opposite side of a straight line through the connections I6 and I 8.v Therefore, it is apparent that handle I1 must be stretched or flexed in order to swing the closure I5 from theclosed position shown in full lines to its open pcsitionshown in dotted lines, or from its open position to its closed position. As previously mentioned, the handle is of a flexible construction. Its flexibility is of such character as to cause the closure I5 to swing to the open position when the container is lifted by means of the handle *I! but to hold the closure I5 in either its open or closedposition until the handle is flexed by the user pushing the same down or lifting the same up. I

' To providefor adequate flexibility in the bandie I 1, it'is'preferably formed with a reduced section I'Ia intermediate its 7 extremities. This section I'Ia may be formed integrally with portions.I1 or as a separate piece inserted in the ends of portions I1. The section He has secured thereto and is inclosed by a hand grip 43, formed of any. suitable insulating material, to protect the user of the kettle from the heat which flows into the metal portion of the handle I1.

While the invention has been herein shown and described as embodied in a kettle for heating water, it will be readily appreciated that it is applicable to many other forms of heaters without departing from the scope of the defined by the appended claims.

I claim; I o

l. A device of the character described comprising a container'for a fluid to be heated, including bottom and side walls, an electric heating element located-outside of the container and arranged in heat exchanging relation to the bottom thereof, a housing removably secured to the container for enclosing the heating element, a recess formed in the side wall of the container, a pair of electrical contact elements rigidly mounted wholly within said recess, and means for connecting said contact points with the heating element exteriorly of the container.

2. A device of the character described comprising a container'for a fluid to be heated including bottom and side walls, an electrical heating' element located outside of the container and arranged in heat exchanging relation to the bottom wall thereof, the side wall of the container provided with a recess, the bottom wall of .the

container also provided with a recessseparated from the flrst mentioned recess by a partition outside of the container, 9. pair of contact elements mounted upon said partition with their upper extremities located within the recess of the bottom wall and their outer extremities located within the recess of the side wall, and means located exteriorly of the container for connecting the inner extremities of the contact points to the heating element.

3. A device of the character described comprising a container for fluid to be heated including bottom and side walls, an electric heating element removably attached to the container, said heating element being located outside of the container and arranged in heat exchanging relation to the bottom thereof, a temperature responsive switch electrically connected to the heating element and removably attached to the container, said switch being located outside of the container and arranged in heat exchanging relation to the bottom thereof but insulated against direct transfer of heat from said heating element, the heating element and switch being removable from the container independently of each other, and a housing removably attached to the container for enclosing the heating element and switch.

4. A device of the character described comprising a container for fluid to be heated includtainer and arranged in heat exchanging relation to the bottom thereof but insulated against direct transfer of heat from said heating element, the heating element and switch being removable from the container independently of each other, contact elements connected to a wall of the container, means for connecting said contact elements to the heating element and switch exteriorly of the container, and a housing removably attached to the container for enclosing the heating element and switch.

5. A device of the character described comprising a container for fluid to be heated including bottom and side walls, an electric heating element removably attached to the container, said heating element being located outside of the container and arranged in heat exchanging relation to the bottom thereof, a temperature responsive switch electrically connected to the heating element and removably attached to the container, said switch being located outside of the container and arranged in heat exchanging relation to the bottom thereof but insulated against direct transfer of heat from said heating element, the heating element and switch being removable from the container independently of each other, a recess in the side wall of the container, a pair of electrical contact elements rigidly mounted wholly within said recess, means for connecting said contact elements with the heating element exteriorly of the container, and a housing removably attached to the container for enclosing the heating element and switch.

HERBERT E. BRANNON. 

